Electromagnetic pump



Feb. 10, 1953 A. VAN RYAN 2,627,811

ELECTROMAGNETIC PUMP Filed 001,. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 5 INVENTOR.

Feb. 10, 1953 VAN RYAN 2,627,811

ELECTROMAGNETIC PUMP Filed on". 11, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

@42- K F011 W filo/"nay Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRGMAGNETIC PUMP Application October 11 1950, Serial No. 189,612

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a vibratory, alternating current electromagnetic pump.

Objects of this invention are to provide 2. voltage sensitive device which takes the form of a vibratory, electromagnetic pump, which is so constructed that it will pump oil or other fluid and will selectively control the connection of the pump to opposite ends of the work cylinder, as well as control the discharge of fiuid from the work cylinder.

In greater detail, objects of this invention are to provide an electromagnetic pump in the form of a shaded pole motor in which the rotor is allowed to vibrate axially due to the cyclic variation of the alternating current, and in which the multitude of minute, rapid vibrations serves to pump the oil while the tendency of the motor armature to twist, due to the shaded pole action, determines the direction of discharge of the oil or other fluid from the pump and from the work cylinder, the amount of twist being controlled by the voltage impressed on the device and the twist of the armature being resisted by a hair spring or similar device. In this way, the armature is allowed to vibrate axially due to cyclic variations in the alternating current and is allowed to twist a, limited amount due to the action of the rotor and opposing hair spring in accordance with the voltage variation, so that the direction of oil or other fluid is dependent on the voltage impressed on the energizing coil of the motor.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a sectional view at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line llt of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a section through the control valve or direction controlling valve of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device is constructed in the form of an elec tric motor, such for example as a shaded pole motor. It includes, in the form chosen for illustration, a field structur I and winding means including an energizing winding 2 and shading windings 3. Between the poles 4 of the stator, a rotor 5 is positioned. This rotor i carried by a vertical shaft 6 which passes through a sleeve or bushing l at its upper portion and which is supported in a bearing 8 adjacent its lower portion, the bearing 8, in turn, supporting the weight of the motor and the shaft and being carried by a leaf spring 9.

A convenient way of assembling the device is to mount the stator between an upper structure 10 and a lower structure or plate H which are bolted together as indicated at I2, suitable spacing means being provided. Below the leaf spring, a hair spring or helical spring I3 is positioned and has one end attached to a pin l4, secured to the bottom plate ll. The other end of the helical spring is attached to the lower end of the shaft 6.

Above the upper structure [0, a, top member or cap-like member I5 is positioned. This caplike member provides a pumping space It. This may be considered the pumping chamber, and into the chamber the upper end of the shaft 8 projects.

Inlet and outlet valves l1 and I8 are provided which are spring pressed toward closed position as shown in Figure 1. It is obvious from the de scription as thus far given, that when the device is energized by alternating current, that the plunger or shaft 6 executes a multitude of longitudinally rapid vibrations which cause pumping of the oil as is obvious from an inspection of Fig ure 1. The oil is pumped to a pressure oil outlet port It, see Figures 1 and 5. From this point, the direction of flow of oil to a work cylinder is controlled by means of a valve-like portion 29 formed on the pumping piston or shaft 6. This is most clearly shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, it will be seen that a discharge port 2| is provided and connects freely with the exterior of the device. Ports 22 and 23 arealso provided and, as indicated diagrammatically, communicate with opposite ends of a work cylinder shown in imaginary lines in Figure 5, such work cylinder being indicated by the reference character 24 and its piston by the reference character 25.

The hair spring is so adjusted that uncle normal voltage conditions, the pressure oil orifice or port 19 and the outlet orifice or port 2| are both closed by the valve portion 20 of the pumping piston or shaft 6. Under these conditions no fluid flow will occur although the pump tends to pump fluid. When the voltage falls, the parts assume the position shown in Figure 5, so that the pressure oil port 19 is placed in communication with the port 23 and with one end of the work cylinder 24, the other end of the work cylinder 24 being placed in communication with the discharge portor orifice 2|. The pumping of the 24 is reversed, so that the work cylinder piston 25 is now driven to the left as viewed in Figure 5.

The above described action may be stated in other words. For example, the torsion of the hair spring i3 is such that'it exactly balances the twisting force of the rotor under normal voltage conditions and holds the valve portion 20, see Figure 5, in a position to close boththe ports I!) and 2|. Obviously, if the voltage drops below this value, the valve portion 20 turns in one direction, whereas if the voltage rises above this A.

value, the valve portion turns in the other direction.

It is to be noted that the leaf spring 9 is the sole support of the rotororlarmatureand shaft and, therefore, this unit, namely the shaft and armature, may vibrate freely a small amount due to the cyclic variations of the alternating current. The valve portion 26 is made sulficiently long, as viewed in Figure 1, so that these vibrations do not alter the action-oi the valve 23 in any sense. The sole alteration of the valve action is due to variations in the voltage which result in variation of the amount of torque imparted to thearmature or rotor.

The above described operationsmay be briefly restated as follows: The pump tends to pump fluid under all conditions due tothe :vertical operation of the armature under'the cyclic variation in the alternating current. When the voltage is at th correct value the ports are closed by the valve means and no pumping occurs. However, as the voltage drops the valve means operates due to the rotary action of the armature under the influence of the torsional spring acting against the torque of thearmature and causes I.

fiuid flow from the pump inone direction. When the voltage arrives at normal value the fluid flow from the pump is again stopped as the valve means closes. On theother hand, as the voltage rises above. normal the torque. of the armature overcomes theefiect of the torsional spring and rotates the valve means to a position such that the fluid now from the. pump is reversed. This reversed fiow of fluid continues until the voltage drops to normal.

The statement that the valve means is closed under normal conditions is intended .to signify the fact that when the voltage is normal there is no fluid flow permitted in either. direction. Obviously fromthe above description it is clear that when the voltage is below normal fluid flow takes place in one direction and when-the voltage is above normal fluid fiow takes place in the other direction.

It will beseen that a very simple voltage sensitive pump has been provided which has the peculiar characteristics of both pumping oil un-, der adequate pressure to operate hydraulic motor means and also controls the direction of fiow of the oil in accordance with variations in voltage.

Although this invention hasbeen described in considerable detail, it isto ice-understood that such description is intended. as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention'may be. variously embodied and is to be interpreted as ;claimed;

I claim:

1. A vibratory, alternating current electromagnetic pump comprising a field structure having shaded poles, an energizing coil on said field structure, an armature located between said poles and yieldingly supported for vertical vibration due to cyclic variations of the alternating current, torsional spring means acting on said armature in opposition to the torque of said armature and normally holding said armature in a predetermined position against rotation, pump means including a stationary portion provided with inlet and outlet valves and a movable pumping portion operatively connected to said armature and actuated by said armature upon longitudinal vibration of said armature, a. body portion, valv means operatively connected to said armature and controlled by the rotary movement of said armature for determining the direction of the fluid pumped by said armature, said body portion having a pair of ports into which fluid supplied by said pump may be selectively discharged or prevented from biowing under the control of said valve means.

2. A vibratory, alternating current electromagnetic pump comprising a field structure having an energizing winding and having opposed shaded poles, an armature located between said poles, spring means supporting said armature and allowing axial motion of said armature due to cyclic variations of the alternating current, torsional spring means opposing rotary movement of said armature, a body portion rigid with said field structure and having a pumping chamber and inlet and outlet valves associated therewith and having a pair of ports, said body portion having a pressure fluid discharge port, a piston operatively connected with said armature and coacting with said pumping chamber to pump fluid, and rotary valve means operatively connected to said armature and selectively conmeeting said ports with the pressure fluid discharge port.

3. A vibratory, alternating current electromagnetic pump comprising a field structure having poles, an armature located between said poles and yieldingly supported for vertical vibration due to cyclic variations of the alternating current, said field structure having winding means for 'energization by alternating current and for producing a torque-on said armature, torsional spring means acting on said armature in opposition to the torque of said armature, pump means including a stationary portion provided with inlet and outlet valves and a movable pumping portion operatively connected to said armature and actuated by said armature upon longitudinal vibration of said armature, a body portion, valve means operatively connected to said armature and controlled by the rotary movement of said armature for selectively determining the direction of flow of the fiui-d pumped by said armature depending on the rotary position of-said armature, said body portion having a pair of ports into which fluid pumped by said pump may be selectively'discharged under the control of said valve means.

i. A vibratory, alternating current electromagnetic pump comprising a field structure having an energizing winding and having opposed shaded poles, an armature located between said poles, a leaf spring having a bearing revolubly supporting said armature, said leaf spring allowing axial motion of said armature due to cyclic variations of the alternating current; spiral spring means acting in opposition to the torque of said armature, whereby said armature will rotate to a position dependent upon the voltage impressed on said energizing winding, a body portion rigid with said field structure and having a pumping chamber and inlet and outlet valves associated therewith and having a pair of ports, said body portion having a pressure fluid discharge port, a piston operatively connected with said armature and coacting with said pumping chamber to pump fluid, said armature having a shaft, and rotary valve means formed as a por- 6 tion of said shaft for selectively connecting said ports with the pressure fluid discharge port.

ANTHONY VAN RYAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,254,432 Lieberman Sept. 2, 1941 2,430,758 Crise Nov. 11, 1947 

